Indiana Books

Heaven, Indiana, is one of those books that you don't want to end. The characters are well developed and recognizable in any small town, and the suspenseful story is well crafted. I really wanted to find out more about each of the characters. I await the next book by Jan Maher. I hope she continues to create wonderfully rich characters who can teach us about some important issues of life in such an entertaining way.

I have now read this book three times over a period of two years and I think a time will come when I read it once again. The first time was for the story. The second time was to try and understand how, in so few pages, the author "did it," that is, created a world and people so vivid and memorable that they continued to haunt me long after I finished not only this book, but at least three dozen others. The third time was to see if it was as good as I remembered; it was.
There is something about the loneliness and self-sufficiency of the characters, something about their secrets and their passions, their loyalties and the fact that they remain mysteries to each other, that keeps me attached to this book in a way I can only assert, but not explain. I have given copies to several friends, all of whom loved it.

Heaven Indiana is a richly textured picture of a small town in the Midwest. Author Jan Maher portrays a deep understanding of small town life. She tells us that two of her leading characters are, "Friends in the way small towns force friendships." With that single brush, she lets the reader know both how deep and how shallow their friendship is.

In her portrayal, the negative spaces Maher leaves out define the town almost as much as the colors she includes. Subtly, she brings out of its patterns an underlying theme of racism that gradually rivets the reader.

Heaven, Indiana is well- written and rings true in every way. Even if you're not from Indiana, you will love the tone, the characters and the sweet poignancy ofthe storyline. A little reminiscent of Ann Tyler or Alice Hoffman - Jan Maher has a wonderful voice of her own.

I grew up in New York, so I like to do everything fast. But from the minute I started reading Jan Maher's "Heaven, Indiana," I wanted the world to slow down. I didn't want the book to end so badly, I rationed myself to only a few pages a night when I got close to the end! I wanted the characters' lives to go on and on so I could keep on reading about them.

What I liked best about this book was that it was easy to get lost in. The characters were all quirky, but I think that made them more likeable because they were not cookie cutter plastic characters with no heart. They were layered, like someone you would know and care about in real life. But even though the characters were complicated, their stories weren't hard to follow. Everything moved along at a good pace and I kept wanting to see where it was going to go next. The writing style was very uncluttered, so you almost didn't realize that there was a lot under the surface, but there was. To me, what tells me a book is worth reading is when it lingers after I have finished it. This book and these characters will linger for a long, long time. I highly recommend it!!!!

These books are all so great and wish someone in the world would make a movie of these books as they are so good for families.

If you haven't read all of Philip Gulley's books then you have missed out on true humor and a visit with people you have "known all your lives"
wonderful fall down clean laughing as well as touching moments.

Like all of Philip Gulley's books, this one takes us to Harmony and the people who live in that small town. His characatures of the Friendly Meeting House people are not only humorous, but there are lessons to be learned as we see ourselves in some of them from time to time. We're delighted that Deena and Dr. Pierce are married, even though Dale Henshaw manages to draw that ceremony to a dramatic climax! Dale will never change, even in such a dramatic occurance as a heart transplant. Fun reading with an added life lesson to be learned every now and then.

Anyone who has stumbled across the writings of Philip Gulley will want to get the next installment in the lives of Harmony. As a person reads these books, he or she forgets that these are all fictional characterizations and a person cannot wait to hear the crazyness continue. A must-read for anyone who wants to have some light-hearted moments!

Sam Gardner and his delightfully dysfunctional Quaker congregation are back again as this series just seems to get better and better. There are lots of humorous moments with special Harmony events such as the Blessing of the Noodles, the Corn and Sausage Days Festival, and the Progressive Nativity Scene. There are also more serious events and a threat to the lives of two of the members of the Harmony Quaker church. There are family squabbles between Ellis and Ralph Hodge and bumpy places in the new marriage of Dr. Pierce and Deena. Again Philip Gulley makes us laugh, makes us cry, and makes us think which is a surefire recipe for a good read.

This book is a perfect introduction into the liturgy of prayer. It is basically a simplified version of the Liturgy of the Hours (simplified in complexity, not content). Each day of the week has morning and evening prayer. There are also prayers for mid-morning, noon, afternoon and evening. Also included is a very nice selection of traditional prayers (the Creed, Act of Contrition, etc.) as well as prayers for various occasions. At the end of the book there is a selection of quotes from the Rules of St. Benedict.

This prayer book is put out by the Benedictine community of Glenstal Abbey in Ireland. The book is a slim volume and is easily carried around. It is perfect for someone (like myself) who wants to develop the habit of prayer and needs a nice introduction to it. There is only one ribbon to move around and it just goes from one day of the week to another. The prayers and liturgies are fairly short and can be done in five or ten minutes. The prayers for mid-morning, etc., are perfect for doing in your car before or after lunch (in the parking lot, not propped up on your steering wheel).

If you are looking for a great tool to help you develop the habit of prayer and that is easy to incorporate into your home and work life, this is it.

Simple reverant prayers in the Benedictine tradition that brings the holy to the every day. A wonderful book to bring along whenever one is seeking a practice to remember the art of spiritual surrender.

I consider this a very meaningful addition to my collection of prayer books. It would make a wonderful gift for anyone on the Benedictine path.

The secular prayerful person may find in this prayer book a schema of prayer accessible to and useful for the person who cannot give up their day job for contemplative purposes. I keep a copy on my prayer table at all times, and find it very useful for constant prayer.

Unlike other such Books of Common Prayer or Monastic Diurnals, it is not overwhelming in its requirements. It gently and lightly suggests a system of prayer for every day of the week, and for the holidays, morning and evening, following the traditional monastic format which dates back before Saint Benedict. No wonder as Glenstal is a Benedictine Abbey.

It also includes much of the traditional prayers once so well known but now difficult to locate, in a very useful and handy lay out. Many of those traditional prayers heard at your grandmother-s knee and not heard since but cherished in memory are represented here, as well as suggestions for prayers at every occassion of the day.

Highly recommended for anyone wishing to introduce regular prayer into their lives (or the life which God has so generously lent to us) as a centering worship of recollection and peace in God-s love. An urgently necessary element of any prayerful life.

I have been looking for a good benedictine prayer book that is easy to follow, and practical for my Oblate studies, and the Glenstal book fits the bill. The monks of Glenstal really put clever thought in putting together this book of prayer for non-monks. Thank you for an excellent tool for lay-monastics, and anyone interested in a solid book of christian prayer.

There is no story it's equal. When I think of a man truly loving a woman, this book comes to mind. It's the most deeply intimate telling of one man's heart, mind and soul. Is it possible love like this is possible by a man or a woman for the other? The story is to be nestled and protected for its lofty ideology. I view the Harvesters love for the woman as many saintly priests and nuns have loved God...deeply beyond what most of us can grasps with our worldliness. I might buy this book for my teenage nieces--they should read this story. Why? I wonder if they could, in their wildest fantasies, imagine a young man loving them similarily. Perhaps they may be more choosy in whom they date.

Gene Stratton-Porter is an excellent author. His books hold your interest and take you to a time where stress is far less an issue. His characters are fully developed and richly represented. An excellen book for peaceful reading.

I loved this book, although it definitely did not compare to The Girl of the Limberlost which is my all-time favorite.

I first read this book 37 years ago. It was the original book published in 1911 and belonged to my 1st husbands grandmother. It was written of a quieter time, the slower paced, clean living and was very inspirational. I loved all the information about the nature and plants. I started out trying to recreate the "Yellow Garden" several years ago. I now have a gorgeous garden with many of the same perennials and herbs listed in the book. The garden has certainly evolved from just yellow to every color in nature. I have passed down the love of gardening to my daughters by sharing the flowers and herbs from my own garden. I have thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I can't count the number of times I've read and re-read this book. Pretty sentimental by today's standards, but the basic story tells of a country man of character who falls deeply in love with a city girl who has issues. That description doesn't do justice to Gene Stratton-Porter's touching romance, but if I had to pare my library down to just 20 books, this one would be in the "keepers."

i was amazed at the photos. i could not help but to wonder if any of these women and men could be my ancestors. you see so many similarites in the faces on the pages to people you see everyday. i wish there were more in the captions to explain the photos. but when you consider the time that many of these photographs were taken, the captions are in the faces and the demeanor of the subjects. why? is probably the question that could never be answered. and if a reasonable explanation could somehow be given it wouldn't be enough. no matter how broken the mother, father, sister, brother in these photograghs looked. i wish they could all know that their unbearable weight, sorrow and pain helped to develop a strong, defiant, capable and proud race of people.

This book covers generations of history. The pictures are
breath-taking....it gives you a sincere sense of purpose.

This book covers generations of history. The pictures are
breath-taking....it gives you a sincere sense of purpose.

The visual imagery in this collection is terrific, enabling readers' memory, longing, wisdom, regret, sorrow, enormous admiration (of the subjects and all that they represent)- and wonderment. The people and the settings resonate. These are important images. You might well be moved to tears. There is no shortage of emotional appeal to the viewer. One cannot be unaffected by this collection, and all that it represents.

In addition, historically important works of art (engravings and paintings) are reproduced - although unfortunately none in color. The captioning is - for a work of this scope and size, and for illustrations of such power - inconsistent and therefore disappointing, though.

Because it's published by an academic press, I expected a more careful and rigorous treatment. Books of this scope and ambition are few and far between, and one treasures the illustrations - the historic visual record - in and of itself. It's dicey to criticize a collection that has as its focus such a compelling (and neglected) subject: the history of African American women.

The subject matter is terrific - but the book is less so. One wishes that the editors had had an editor. (Why, for example, is the "b" of "black" capitalized? To my knowledge this is not conventional usage, and it detracts.)

So what happened? At times the work seems rushed. For example, three people are photographed, two are identified by name, the third called "unknown." In fact, the writer means "unidentified." Accompanying a photo of a shoeless farm worker is the caption telling one, redundantly, that she is barefoot. A number of captions identify the subject as "Unidentified woman, [location, date.]" That seems lifted directly from states' historical societies' archives. One expects more - or less - but not words that merely interfere with one's experience. One does not need to be told that a photograph is a "photograph."

Occasionally, the editors engage in assumptions regarding the illustrations that, in my view, interfere with the power of the imagery, and reduce the value of this compilation. Guessing as to the subjects' activities in a photograph by Jack Delano, they write that a woman and several children are "possibly waiting for the husband and father to get his hair cut." In fact, one cannot know, and do not need to know, what the people were doing that day. The photo is about much more than that. Another incredible photo of a woman and a girl is accompanied by more guesswork as to the relationship of the subjects (mother and daughter?). There is wordiness to many of the captions. Worst case, there is sometimes unintentional patronization: subjects are identified as "lovely young women," (p. 81) or "fashionable," "attractive" (p.4). The end result is a sense that this book was rushed, and that - despite the impressive pool of archival material from which it was assembled - some corners were cut. The editors use interesting and illuminating quotations in places - but meagerly. There is brief index of names of subjects, and names of quoted women, omitting place names and more.

I wish that the authors of this work either done more, or less. Mostly, I wish that they had more convincingly respected the ability of these powerful and important illustrations to speak clearly to the reader, and had also trusted readers to make the connections between text and visual imagery that is so satisfying and essential to the meaningful experience of organized archival material.

This is a marvelous and moving selection of visual moments, carefully chosen and elegantly captioned. It is refreshingly free of the stuffily convoluted prose one would expect of a book from an academic press. Although the pictures could be said to speak for themselves (and sometimes they can), the information supplied by the gracefully literate writer(s) is helpful and interesting.

Groups of photographs can be wonderful to look at. This collection rises far above what it might have been by means of the exquisite care that was taken in its selection and the highly accessible captioning that accompanies the images.

Fossil Hunter is well-written, and a lot of fun to read. It's a book the whole family can enjoy -- my wife and 12-year old daughter both read and loved it too. John B. Olson has done a terrific job of using this absorbing action story as a backdrop for an engaging discussion of science, evolution and intelligent design. He approaches the difficult subject in a refeshingly straigtforward manner and I've found the book serves as a nice springboard for thought-provoking dialog. I've used it many times as a way to start a conversation on the subject with friends, both Christian and non-Christian. I highly recommend this book!

Fossil Hunter is one of those books that not only entertains (and believe me, it does!) but it also educates. This is not a mindless story laden with drivel and rhetoric, but is an intelligent work of art, and it's full of depth and intrigue. I was impressed with how well the author developed the setting. I felt like I was on the run and hiding in the hot desert right along with Nick and Katie. And all that dust! Oy!

I'd heard the author was an expert at writing from a woman's point of view. That is definitely the case. The main character, Katie, was very believable and strong, yet enticingly vulnerable at the same time. The tension between Katie and Nick was exhilarating, too. I loved that. And unlike many high intensity novels these days, this one had a spiritual element that was subtle, yet genuine and clear.

In short, Fossil Hunter is a must-read. If you love action and adventure with subtle romantic elements you will love this story.

"Fossil Hunter" is a wonderfully written adventure that spans the globe! Katie James is a brilliant and beautiful paleontologist trying to save her career by accepting a position on a team looking for the fossilized remains of an ancient whale. Nick Murad, Katie's long-time rival, is after the same prize.

This novel is a brilliant work of intellectual fiction with a Christian backbone. There's plenty of suspense and tension because of the rivalry between our two leading characters. The Iraqi setting of the dig adds to the volatility and intrigue of the story. The author has obviously done his research to make this work of fiction believable. The foreign phrases and scientific terminology add depth and credibility to the story. Although I would have appreciated a glossary in the back of the book so that I would have had greater understanding while I was reading, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Well written and easy to understand, even for the scientifically challenged. Could not put this page turner down. I enjoyed every bit and it created several debate filled lunch hours for my family. Thanks for another brilliant book, John!

I initially balked at the opportunity to review Fossil Hunter because on the back of the book there's an advertisement proclaiming the book is part of the "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed campaign." Oh no...the dreaded threat of agenda-driven fiction! Thankfully, my concern has proven utterly unfounded. Fossil Hunter is a thoroughly absorbing thrill ride that takes readers from the halls of academia to the deserts of Iraq. Katie James is a renowned paleontologist who suffers from demophobia - a debilitating fear of crowds. That, plus her Christian faith, has caused her academic creditionls to come under fire. Believing her work and her faith can go hand-in-hand, Katie is desperate to prove herself and secure the funding her university needs in order to continue her research. She's sent into Iraq with the task of finding a potential new species of whale which could prove to be a new link in evolutionary theory. She finds herself in a race opposite her arch-rival Dr. Nick Murad. However, when a new fossil is discovered, Katie and Nick are forced to collaborate in order to survive warring factions in the Iraqi government and agenda-driven academics only interested in fossil finds that support popular (and evolutionary) scientific theories.

The action is briskly-paced and the characterizations are wonderfully rich and well-drawn. Olson puts his scientific background to good use (he has a background in biochemistry), but he never drowns the novel in incomprehensible lingo - all of the science is presented in such a way as to be fascinating and comprehensible by even the uninitiated reader. The inclusion of the present geo-political realities Katie and Nick face add tension and credibility to the storyline. Fossil Hunter packed with enough action and humor (and just a dash of romance!) to be worthy of a chapter in the adventures of another famous academic adventurer - Indiana Jones. What sets this novel apart is its intelligent, thoughtful, engaging discussion of the intersection of faith and science. Fossil Hunter is a action-packed thrill ride that begs for a sequel - I'd love to see the further adventures of Katie & Nick. Highly recommended.

Great condition but didn't realise the book contained several stories. Just wanted the one story "Why the chimes rang."It was bought as a gift and the reciever was totally thrilled

I remember this book from long ago. It has a wonderful message. Not only can love make the bells ring, love can change the world! The illustration are just perfect for the story. This would make the perfect holday gift for young people, or even not so young people who want to regain the Christmas spirit of giving and service.

Destined to be a Christmas classic:Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices--echoes the message of Why the Chimes Rang.

Growing up in a small town in Indiana, I got to listen to my paternal grandfather read this story to the assembled family every Christmas Eve. My father has continued the tradition within our family, reading from an original 1906 edition of the book. Every year like clockwork, my mother cries as she looks around the room at her sons, their families and the dogs. My partner and I are adopting a boy and a girl from Guatemala this year, and I can't wait to begin this tradition in our home. This is a truly glorious story about Christmas. Read it and share it with your own family. And make sure it's read aloud by the family member with the most sonorous voice.

lovely pictures and great story
nice to find a childrens christmas book that isnt a popular character of the month
adults will enjoy also, so makes reading together the experience it should be

What a delight to find this classic from my childhood. Our parents read to us at bedtime. This story of love and sharing relates universal values. Thank you for making it available.

This is the definitive history of what I consider the best brigade-sized unit in either army during the Civil War. Alan Nolan is THE authority on this famous, hard-hitting outfit and this book is a classic. Interesting, vivid, full of valor, heartbreaking losses, and gallant deeds, it chronicles the Army of the Potomac's sole western unit from its meager beginnings, its first engagement at Brawner's Farm the day before Second Bull Run, where it met and defeated the vaunted Stonewall Brigade in a vicious stand-up fight though outnumbered and still an untried unit of well-trained rookies. through the tough tutelage of veteran artilleryman John Gibbon, its first commander of note, to its moment of truth at Gettysburg, where, suffering almost 70% casualties, it goes into the fire unperturbed and outnumbered, both ruining and capturing opposing Confederate units, coming onto the field behind its tattered regimental flags like a wave of blue doom. I first became interested in the Iron Brigade while reading Bruce Catton's excellent trilogy on the Army of the Potomac. Not until this superb volume, however, did the whole story come out in gripping detail and hard-to-put-down narrative. The author paints a vivid picture of the realities of war, what losses can do to even a veteran, well-trained unit, and the value of personal valor and leadership. This book is highly recommended and should be on the book shelf of every Civil War reenactor, historian, and enthusiast.

Author Alan Nolan has brought the story of the Iron Brigade to life in this excellent study of this famous group of hard fighting midwesterners. Nolan's information is valuable and everything is backed by references. Nolan's style is concise. It was nice that he didn't dwell on subjects like battles or politics not involving the Iron Brigade. He kept the book's chapters flowing and informative. He kept biographies short while the movements and changes in command structure through out the book were covered very well. The fighting at Gettysburg was probably the best coverage and most descriptive although it was most fitting considering it was the brigade's crescendo in battle. Overall, Nolan's book is a valuable tool, reference and history of the Iron Brigade that many people could benefit from reading. 5 STARS!

The author successfully weaves together regimental histories with grand strategic movements and anecdotal observations of the common soldier. All this gives a feel for the the tension and struggle faced by the "heroes" of this story-- the officers and common soldiers of the Iron Brigade. Common men of uncommon bravery and valor. The reader is able to follow the progress of each regiment within the Brigade through Nolan's fast paced, dramatic narrative. A fine reference and requisite companion to Herdegen's "Four Years with the Iron Brigade," since it puts the diaries in the larger context of Brigade movements. I appreciated Nolan's work all the more after Herdegen's book, and wished I had read them together.

Nolan's book about the Iron Brigade is a fantastic account of the brigade's history, covering its intriguing stories off the field as much as on it.

The book is very easy to follow as it begins with the creation of every regiment in the brigade and ends months after Appomattox.

By using primary accounts and concise analysis, Nolan covers the relationships between the ordinary men and their officers, the relationships between the regiments, the relationships between the brigades and divisional/corps commanders all the way up to McClellan/Hooker and more. In addition, the politics in the brigade and the Army of the Potomac as a whole are covered, and all of this without even getting into the combat history of the brigade.

Nolan covers in depth every combat the Iron Brigade was engaged in while it consisted of just Westerners, and the Epilogue in the book deals with the addition of non Western units to the Brigade, the dissolution of some of the regiments and the mustering out of notable officers through discharges, wounds and death.

In Nolan's interpretation, although it keeps its name, the Iron Brigade is no longer THE Iron Brigade after all the casualties at Gettysburg and the addition of Eastern troops to the brigade on July 18, 1863. Thus the combat from Brawner's Farm to Gettysburg is covered in depth concerning the brigade's actions. The book has exceptional maps for the actions of the brigade on the battlefields and casualty counts for every regiment. The chapter dealing with Day 1 of Gettysburg is the book's most poignant and gripping battle account.

The notes in the book are nearly 100 pages and are nearly as interesting as the narrative itself. In the notes are extended discussions on casualty %s (the Iron Brigade as a whole suffered the most battle casualties by % than any Federal brigade during the war, the 2nd Wisconsin suffered the most by % of any regiment, the 24th Michigan suffered 80% casualties on July 1 etc.) and Nolan's explanation in how he dealt with discrepancies in battle records and accounts. In the epilogue's notes, Nolan offers up post-war details of the officers in the 5 regiments.

One of the best parts of the book is how Nolan really takes issue with Glenn Turner's book on Gettysburg due to its pro-Confederate slant. Turner claims the Iron Brigade was "swept off" the field and calls Old Man Burns, the old citizen who came onto the field and fought with the Iron Brigade, a "cowardly" "bushwhacker" despite fighting in line and being wounded three times during the battle.

This book is perfect for anyone interested in the Civil War or anyone interested in the military history of Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan.

Nolan's "biography" of the battle-torn Iron Brigade contains the most stirring description of the 1st day of battle at Gettysburg that I have ever read. His account of the bravery and heroism of these men is exceptional. At times I got a bit confused trying to keep track with whom was in charge of which regiment/brigade/division, etc., but this information is vital to the history of the brigade. This book also made me aware of the under-appreciated accomplishments of Lt. Col. Rufus Dawes who should be accorded the same recognition as other noble Union leaders during this battle, such as Chamberlain, Hancock and Warren.

I read the book in two sittings. It was an easy read, perfect for traveling. I was quickly engaged by the story. The book was entertaining throughout and educational at the same time. I knew little of religious iconography in general and the history of the Russian community in the San Francisco Bay area in particular. I learned a little about both.

The book was particularly timely for me, as I was going out to visit the Bay area for the first time in many years. I live on the east coast. I also learned about the Crystal Skull, another icon featured in the book as well as the latest Indiana Jones movie. Again, the book was particularly timely for me, as I saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull right after my reading of the book. It certainly made my viewing of the movie more enjoyable.

I recommend it for someone looking for an entertaining story as well as a little education.

I was very sad when I finished "The Madonna Murders" by Pamela Cranston. I wanted the story to go on and on. For me it is very reminiscent of Armistad Maupin's "Tales of the City", in that the San Francisco Bay Area provides the scenic backdrop. The story involves a ritualistic murder and theft of the miraculous Icon of Our Lady of Kazan from a Russian Orthodox cathedral in San Francisco.

The author is an Episcopal priest and a Russian history scholar. She very artfully incorporates poignant passages from Metropolitan Anthony Bloom's spiritual writings at the beginning of each chapter. She gives the reader a marvelous introduction into the spiritual meaning of Eastern Orthodox iconography. She knows and weaves the history of the Russian Orthodox Church both in the Bay Area and abroad throughout this tale of murder, mystery, and redemption.

I highly recommend the book to anyone who would like to read a delightful "whodunit" whilst feeling inspired at the same time.

I am not a big mystery fan, but enjoyed this interesting and well written mystery by Pamela Cranston. Cranston's extensive historical research about the icon is evident and adds interest to the mystery aspect of the story. I also enjoyed the familiarity of the San Francisco and Bay Area locales since that is where I live. Cranston gives us clues throughout the book, but does a masterful job of keeping us in suspense until the very end.

This is the sort of book one wants to dive into on a rainy day, cup of tea at hand. It has the rich texture of a Persian rug. The combination of character development, spirituality, well-paced mystery, icons and Russian history is a can't-miss. Cranston has created believable characters and an intriguing story line, with some real cliff-hangers sprinkled throughout the plot. The only downer about this wonderful book is having to wait for the next one!

This is a fast-paced book that works on many levels, so I think it will be appealing to many different types of readers. My husband enjoyed it because it is a thrilling mystery. My teenage daughter liked the strong sense of place. She really felt like she was there, with the characters, in the Bay Area at a posh restaurant. She said that it was like reading a great travel memoir. I liked how well-researched this book is on so many topics. Whether it is Russian history, or art, or Christianity, the author dives into her subjects with great insight and detail. I hope this is the beginning of a series! I want to read about the trials and tribulations of these characters again and again.

Overall, and interesting account of the creation of the character and the movies in which he stars. Great for Indy fans and those intrigued with the process of filmmaking.

As a long time fan of the Indiana Jones series, this book is a real treasure to own. It goes through the whole film series from concept to reality and has great anecdotes from behind the scenes. Packed full of interesting behind the scenes photos and production notes etc. A must for any fan of Indiana Jones and film making in general.

I've bought a wide range of books over the years. Sometimes I've regretted the purchase. That is certainly not the case with this excellent book on the Indiana Jones films. I would highly recommend it - unlike some movie based books, there is a lot of substance - the fact that both George Lucas and Steven Spielburg have contributed prefaces goes to show how well respected this book is by the very people responsible for the movies. You only have to hold the book in your hands and feel its weight to know that a lot of research went in to creating it.

I thought the book would be good, and was pleasantly surprised to find it even better than expected. If you enjoy the Indiana Jones movies then this would be a good coffee table book for you.

Won't give any information away, but some of the ideas that didn't make it to the big screen are quite surprising. Thankfully Spielburg and Harrison Ford managed to curb Lucas's enthusiasm for sci-fi. I hope that they make one more movie - as long as it doesn't involve any more aliens or CGI based action scenes! Somehow I doubt that it will happen though. So you're pretty safe in buying this book as the 'complete' making of!

The book was a very interesting look, and brilliantly put together, but there could have been more about the the kingdom of the crystal skull. Most of the book heavenly takes you into the world of the first 3 movies.

For any fan of the "Indy" film series, this is the ultimate book... While it does contain information we all may have heard or seen in archival footage or interviews on the two recent DVD releases, it also contains an abundant amount of new insight and some really great photographs straight out of the Lucasfilm Archives!

If you hated the new film, you can skip the last chapter, but it is also an insightful read - It also shows, and explains, in great detail how virtually every BAD idea associated with the series can be attributed to Lucas... who miraculously seems to win arguments with Spielberg just by wearing him down over time. While the book is never critical of Lucas, it nevertheless paints a less than flattering picture of him... It's odd that he let certain things come to light.

Anyway. This is the ultimate book for any hardcore "Indy" fan - a must buy.